My mother is a feminist, and due to my family’s general love of film and television, her views frequently manifested during discussions on the portrayal and opportunity for female storytellers in Hollywood which is a topic still discussed at family get-togethers to this day. My wife can attest to the zeal displayed on the subject which is something I doubt is discussed at many other Christmas dinners.

It takes a long time for those lessons to sink in, and I am still absorbing them to this to this day. What I do know for sure is that the world would be a better place if more mothers were like mine. Just look at the inane discourse on the topic that proliferates through the internet. These boys obviously aren’t getting an earful on the importance of Melissa McCarthy in the male-dominated comedy world at home.

What does this all mean for the list? Ultimately, it made it easier. I was able to quickly rattle off performances that resonated with me, and I have my mother to thank for that. It couldn’t have been easy trying to subtly enforce feminist ideals with four boys that wanted nothing more than to laugh at fart jokes and wrestle each other.

Eileen (Matriarch)

Julia Roberts
Meryl Streep
Helen Mirren
Melissa McCarthy
Jessica Lange

 

Molly (Sister)

Amy Adams
Amy Poehler
Melissa McCarthy
Jennifer Lawrence
Mary Louise-Parker

 

 

 

 

 

Tianna (Consort)

Audrey Hepburn
Emma Stone
Jessica Chastain
Jennifer Lawrence
Scarlett Johansson

 

 

 

Jesse (Patriarch)

Julia Roberts
Meryl Streep
Katey Sagal
Jean Stapleton
Edie Falco

 

 

 

 

Brian (Brother)

Kathleen Turner
Susan Sarandon
Glenn Close
Diane Lane
Ziyi Zhang

 

 

 

 

Jesse (Brother)

Scarlett Johansson
Sigourney Weaver
Geena Davis
Susan Sarandon
Salma Hayek

 

 

 

Nic (Myself)

Scarlett Johansson
Amy Adams
Jennifer Lawrence
Jodie Foster
Molly Fonseca

 

 

 

Tony (Brother)

Jessica Lange
Meryl Streep
Helen Bonham Carter
Diane Lane
Sandra Bullock

 

 

 

 

 

Observations

• Of the 28 unique names on this list – half of them have won Oscars or Emmy’s in an acting category.

• Of the 28 unique names – the only non-white selections are Ziyi Zhang and Selma Hayek. I guess we aren’t as progressive as I like to thing we are sometimes.

• There is a huge swing between ages of the female actors chosen – from Emma Stone at 26 to Jean Stapleton who would have been 92 years young this year.

• No shortage of strong, talented women in this list.

 

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